Pre-Season Friendly Thriller
Arsenal suffered a 3-2 defeat to Villarreal in a pre-season friendly thriller at Emirates Stadium, with former Gunner Nicolas Pepe scoring against his old club. Christian Norgaard and Martin Odegaard netted for Arsenal, but defensive lapses allowed Villarreal to capitalize through Karl Etta Eyong and Arnaut Danjuma. This pre-season friendly thriller highlighted both promise and areas for improvement as Arsenal gear up for the Premier League.
Image: Hayters TV
Pepe Haunts Former Club
On August 6, 2025, Arsenal endured a 3-2 loss against Villarreal in their first home pre-season game at the Emirates Stadium. Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe broke the deadlock in the 17th minute by pouncing on a rebound after David Raya’s save deflected off the post. Now playing for Villarreal, Pepe chose not to celebrate but still set the tone for Arsenal’s defensive woes.
Defensive Struggles Exposed
Arsenal’s backline, featuring Ben White and Jakub Kiwior, failed to handle Villarreal’s fast breaks. In the 33rd minute, Karl Etta Eyong doubled the lead by slotting home after Raya’s parry from Gerard Moreno’s effort. Although Arsenal controlled possession, they faltered again in the 68th minute. Arnaut Danjuma broke past the high defensive line and made it 3-1. Mikel Arteta, clearly frustrated, later stressed the urgent need to tighten defensive organization ahead of their Premier League opener against Manchester United on August 17.
Norgaard and Odegaard Shine
Despite the setbacks, Arsenal found some positives. Christian Norgaard responded quickly in the 36th minute, heading in a Gabriel Martinelli corner to score his first goal since joining from Brentford for £10 million. In the second half, substitute Martin Odegaard calmly converted a penalty earned by 15-year-old Max Dowman. The youngster’s sharp movement impressed, while Ethan Nwaneri added spark in midfield. However, new signing Viktor Gyokeres struggled to find rhythm during his Emirates debut.
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Looking Ahead to the Premier League
After the match, Arteta praised Norgaard’s work rate and Dowman’s maturity under pressure. Although Villarreal later claimed a 4-3 win in the penalty shootout, the match helped identify clear areas for improvement. With injuries sidelining Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, and Ricardo Calafiori, Arsenal must regroup quickly. Their final pre-season clash against Athletic Club on August 9 will offer one last chance to build momentum. Ultimately, this pre-season friendly thriller reminded fans and players alike that there’s work to be done before the new campaign begins.
